Journal lubricator



Jan.17,1939. I R. w. MILLER 0 JOURNAL LUBRICATOR I I Filed June 3'0, 195'? s Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 17,1939. R..W.MILLERI' JOURNAL LUBVRICAITOR Filed June so, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 17,1939. R. wv MILLER 2,144,430

' JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Filed June 50, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w; QWMMF sump Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED s'ra'rss smear caries JOURNAL LUBRIGATOR Rudolph W. Miller, Winona, Application June 30, 1937, Serial No. 151,243

7 Claims.

The invention relates to journal lubricators and. has as an object the improvement of devices of this character in detail.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lubricator supported by a spring by which the pressure against the journal surface may be modifled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lubricator having means to prevent twisting of the same in the box by influence of the rotating journal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lubricator having means to seal the rear of the box.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lubricator having means to exclude dust, water, snow, and the like from the interior of the box.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lubricator formed with a spring to hold the felt arms about the journal so related to the felt as not to wear against the collar of the journal.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a journal box showing a lubricator in place;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Fig. l;

' Fig. 3 is a section similar to Figure 2 showing a different form of U-iron;

Fig. 4 is a detail section similar to a portion of Figure 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail transverse sections showing still further forms of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a spring for supporting the lubricator elements;

Fig. 8 is a perspective viewof a snow and water I pan, such as shown in section in Figure 1;

Fig. 9 is a detail central vertical section showing a different form of pan to be utilized with a different form of locating bar from that shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the form of pan shown in Figure 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figure 9 of a still further form of pan;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the last named form of pan; and

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional View on line l3-l3 of Figure 9 showing a bowed spring at least partially embedded in the felt element.

In Figure 1 a journal box is indicated at I 5 and the journal at 16 together with the brass l1 and wedge block I8. The usual brass locating lugs are indicated at 19, 20, Figures 1 and 2.

The lubricator as shown embodies felt elements 2|, the shape of which is indicated in elevation in Figure 2 and which are shown as pressed upwardly by springs 22 reacting against the bottom of the journal box and desirably wired to the elements 2 l, as indicated at 23. Also wick portions 24 of felt are shown projecting downwardly from the elements 2|.

The elements 21 when saturated with oil would become limp and would not hug the journal in the absence of pressure means. Such means are provided in the form of bowed wire springs 25, 26 placed upon each side of the elements and sewn or stapled thereto as by means of wires 21 which are desirably passed clear through the felt elements. In use these wires have been found to Wear if they contact the collar 28 of the journal. To avoid such wear, at least the portions thereof which lie above a plane passed through the lower surface of the collar are desirably embedded in the felt, as shown in Figure 13, so as to be held out of contact with the collar. This precaution is not necessary with the elements other than that adjacent the collar.

A difficulty with the operation of car journals is that the face of the felt becomes glazed, which is found to be due to two causes, one is excess pressure of the absorptive surface against the journal, a cure for which will be described below, a second is that dust gets access to the rear of the box through the opening 29 which is provided for the insertion of the collar 28 into the box.

To seal this opening 29 throughout a large portion of the circumference thereof, the rear element 2! is shown in Figure 1 as provided with a projecting rib 3|) which, as shown, contacts with the tapered portion 31 of the journal and which rib projects into substantial contact with the usual dust seal 32, which latter wears in use so as not to exclude dust.

To enable the insertion of the felt elements consecutively into the journal box and to hold them in alignment with each other after insertion, the elements are shown as provided with bushings 33 shown as flaring rearwardly and as each having rigidly secured therein a piece of flattened rod 34. The flaring portion enables the ready guidance of the bushing over the rod in the section already in place. The ends of the bushings may be flared and have their edges welded to make a smooth pyramidal portion, as

indicated in Figure 3, or they may be merely formed by cutting the corners of a rectangular tubing and spreading the sides after the manner indicated in Figure 2.

Desirably the bowed springs 25, 26 may be held against the felt elements by the spreading. of these portions as also indicated in Figure 2.

To prevent the twisting of the lubricator as a whole in the box, a U-iron 35 is shown between two of the elements 2| and provided with an opening to slip over one of the rods 34, the arms of the iron being of such a length as to terminate a little below the lugs I9, 20. Any attempt of the lubricator to twist in the box will be prevented by contact of one or the other of thearmsof the U iron with the lugs.

In Figure 3 the U iron is shown as formed with slots 36 taking over pins'3l inserted in the faces of the lugs the slots being provided to allow the U iron to move responsive to the vibration of the box relative to the journal.

To avoid any possibility of the U iron becoming misplaced and coming into contact with the rotating journal, the-arms may be cut off as indicated in Figure 5 and an angle iron 38 may be bolted or riveted to the inside of the journal box to prevent rotation of the U iron.

Instead of the angle iron 38, there is shown in Figure 6 a Ziron 39 which has the advantage of producing in effect a recess or socket for the limitation of movement-of the U iron.

vTo hold the assembled lubricator elements from coming forward in the box, there is shown in Figure l a locating bar 49 screwthreaded at its forward extremity passing through an opening in the'box l5 and provided with lock nuts 4!. The inner end of the bar 40 is flattened and perforated to receive the downturned end 42 of the forwardmost rod 3d, as shown.

To exclude dust, water and snow from the interior, which are found to get access in considerable quantities around the lid 33 of the journal box, there .is shown a pan 44 in section in Figure -l and in perspective in Figure 8, formed to rest upon the rod 4E and to lean against the inside of the lid. The opening 45 between the two portions of the pan .as shown in Figure 8 is for the passage of spring 4.6 which holds the lid closed.

In the absence of such a spring, the pan may take the form shown in Figures 9 and 10 in which figures a different form of locator bar 49 is shown. The pan M to go with this form of locator bar is shown in perspectiveinFigure 10.

In the absence of a portion of the locator bar 40 or 40 which can be utilized to support the pan, the form may be as shown in Figures 11 and 12 wherein the pan 4D is shown as supported upon pins 41 projecting inwardly from the sides of the opening, which pins are engaged by bayonet slots 48 inthe pan.

The forward projecting flanges 49 particularly at the outer edges .of each form of the pan are very important as snow especially blows into the boxesin considerable quantities-in a direction such as will carry it past any mere plate. The pans are frequently found filled with snow after even. a short runand if the snow finds access to the interior of the box, the heat of the journal will cause it to melt, then when the car stands the water will freeze, rendering the lubrication of the journal defective or entirely wanting. A driving rain or 'a driving snow or dust storms have less efiect upon journals equipped as described.

As stated above, if the spring pressure of the lubricator against the surface of the journal is too great, the absorptive element is likely to glaze, thus interfering with the feed of oil to the surface. When journals are turned down or brasses become worn, the distance between the journal and the bottom of the box is changed, therefore it is necessary with the form of spring shown in Figures 1 and 2 to provide an assortment of lubricators having appropriate length springs to fit the exigencies of the occasion.

In Figure '7 is shown a form of spring that will enable a ready insertion of a standard form to fit a variety of conditions.

It is important that the bottom turn of the spring in use is tied to the beginning of the same turn in order that when the springs are slid into place under the journal, as they must be in assembly, the spring will not become deformed and rendered inoperative. This also is provided for in'the form of spring shown in Figure 7 wherein at the endof the turn next to the bottom the wire iscarried about the beginning of that turn, as shown at 59, and the wire is then carried laterally as at 5|, makes another turn 52 and its end is then tied about the beginning of the last turn 52 as shown at 53.

The complete spring with the two ties shown will function much as if the tie 50 were absent because'of the direction of the portion 5i whereas if the same were substantially parallel with the axis of the spring, it would act as a pillar support between the two turns at this point.

If the spring as a whole and as shown is found to be too high or if used as a whole would produce too great a pressure upon the journal surface, theportion 5! may be clipped off closely adjacent the tie 5B and the remainder only of the spring may be used with the lubricator.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

.1. A journal lubricator for use in the type of journal boxhaving inwardly projecting portions comprising, in combination: absorptive pad means to contact the surface of the. journal comprising a plurality of sections perpendicular to the axis of the journal; a hollow bushing penetrating each of said sections; non-circular rods entering adjacent bushings and spanning the spaces between the sections; a perforated U iron placed on the rod between two of said sections with its arms extending .to a point adjacent inward projections carried by the journal box; whereby to'prevent the pad means from twisting in the box.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the arms of the U iron project upwardly to coact with the brass locating lugs of the box.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the arms of the U iron do not project materially above a horizontal planethrough the lower portion of the journal and the inward projection is a piece of added structural shape.

4. The combination of claim "1 wherein the arms of the U iron do not project materially above a horizontal plane through the lower portion of the journal and the inward projection is a piece of added structural '2 bar with its inward flange downwardly directed.

5. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: absorptive pad means to contact the surface of the journal; a helical spring to press said pad against said surface; the ends of the lower two turns of said spring each being tied into contact with the beginning of the same turns.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein the wire of the spring forms said ties and extends between the ties in a plane excluding the axis of the spring.

7. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: absorptive pad means to contact the surface of the journal comprising a plurality of sections transverse to the axis of the journal;

aligning and twist preventing means carried by certain of said sections comprising means penetrating and secured to the sections, said means presenting an open socket at one side of its section and. a projecting non-circular rod at the remaining side of the section to enter the socket of the next section; the rod projecting from the section at the end of the journal turned to a vertical position and entering an opening in a member rigid with the journal box.

RUDOLPH W. MILLER. 

